The name Achern was first used by the ancient Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The first Achern to use this name no doubt lived in Renfrewshire, where they took on the name of the lands of Cochrane in the parish of Paisley, near Glasgow. This place name is of uncertain derivation, perhaps stemming from the Welsh word "coch," meaning "red."

Early Origins of the Achern family

The surname Achern was first found in Renfrewshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rinn Frił), a historic county of Scotland, today encompassing the Council Areas of Renfrew, East Renfrewshire, and Iverclyde, in the Strathclyde region of southwestern Scotland, where the first record of the name was Waldeve de Coueran, who was witness to a charter issued by Dugal, son of Syfyn, to Walter Stewart, fifth Earl of Menteith, regarding several lands in Kintyre. William de Coughran of Lanark swore an oath of allegiance to King Edward I of England during his short conquest of Scotland in 1296. Walter Cochrane was the first record of the more popular spelling used today in 1262. His son William Cochrane, the second chief of the Clan, also rendered homage to King Edward I in 1296.

Early History of the Achern family

Early History of the Achern family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Achern research.Another 231 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1482, 1600, 1669, 1605, 1685, 1707, 1669, 1683, 1690, 1691, 1778, 1659, 1717, 1708 and 1713 are included under the topic Early Achern History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Achern Spelling Variations

Achern Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Achern has been spelled Cochrane, Cochran, Cocrane, Cocran, Cochren, Cockram, Cockran, Cockren and many more.

Early Notables of the Achern family (pre 1700)

Early Notables of the Achern family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family at this time was William Cochrane (1605-1685), 1st Earl of Dundonald. Of his children was Sir John Cochrane (d. 1707), who was a Member of Parliament for Ayrshire in 1669; he was suspected of complicity in the Rye House Plot, and fled to Holland in 1683, returned... Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Achern Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Achern family to Ireland

Migration of the Achern family to Ireland

Some of the Achern family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 51 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Achern family to the New World and Oceana

Migration of the Achern family to the New World and Oceana

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them: Hugues Cochran, who settled in Quebec in 1685; Richard Cochrane, who came to Antigua in 1709; Agnes Cochran, who settled in Charles Town, SC in 1772; Ann Cochran, a Scotch-Irish settler, who came to New Hampshire in 1722.

The Achern Motto

The Achern Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.